The Institute Ethics Committee (IEC) at IIT Delhi oversees research involving human participants, ensuring adherence to globally recognized ethical standards. It operates in accordance with the National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research Involving Human Participants (2017) issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). IIT Delhi is dedicated to upholding the welfare, rights, dignity, safety, and privacy of individuals participating in research under its purview.

The IEC is guided by the three core ethical principles from the Belmont Report—beneficence, justice, and respect for persons—while ensuring compliance with the ICMR (2017) guidelines. These principles help maintain research integrity, foster a culture of respect for participants, and align research activities with IIT Delhi’s academic values. Researchers must minimize potential risks to participants and ensure that informed consent is obtained in an appropriate manner. More information on these requirements is available in the forms section.

All research involving human participants undergoes an appropriate level of ethical review. The IEC evaluates research protocols based on key considerations such as:

• • Participant selection and voluntary participation

• • Informed consent procedures

• • Risk-benefit assessment

• • Privacy and confidentiality in data handling (collection, analysis, and storage)

• • Compensation provisions, where applicable

The IEC reviews research proposals before the study begins and conducts periodic assessments until the research is completed. The review process is transparent and well-documented to ensure compliance with ethical guidelines.

The IEC follows a three-tiered review system: Exempt Review, Expedited Review, Full Board Review. Researchers should refer to the Mini Guidelines to determine the appropriate review category for their study.

All faculty, students, and staff conducting research involving human participants must complete an NPTEL Course on ethics in human research. This training ensures that researchers at IIT Delhi maintain ethical standards and treat participants fairly and respectfully.

Note: Before submitting a research application, consult the Checklist to verify that all required documents are included, and the application is complete. IIT Delhi faculty must submit a signed hard copy of their application, along with the required documents, to the IEC office at Block IV, 3rd Floor, Room 4B9. Additionally, they must email a complete application form and documents as a single PDF to iitd_iec@iitd.ac.in.

Following submission, the application will undergo technical and ethical review. Any feedback will be communicated directly to the Principal Investigator. If required, the Principal Investigator may be asked to appear before the committee to address concerns.